Display device

ABSTRACT

A display device includes a substrate including a first display area and a second display area. The first display area includes first pixel areas, each including one or more first pixels. The second display area includes second pixel areas including one or more second pixels and a light transmittance area having a higher light transmittance than the second pixel area. The first and second display areas include a common electrode that transmits a constant common voltage. The common electrode in the second display area includes patterned regions that correspond to a first light transmittance area included in the light transmittance area. A thickness of the common electrode in the patterned regions is smaller than a thickness of the common electrode in a region other than the patterned regions or equals zero. The patterned regions and the second pixel areas extend alternately along a first direction in the second display area.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0124393, filed on Oct. 18, 2018,in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and entitled: “DisplayDevice,” is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

Embodiments relate to a display device.

2. Description of the Related Art

A display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organiclight emitting diode (OLED) display, or the like, includes a displaypanel that includes a plurality of pixels that can display an image.Each pixel includes a pixel electrode that receives a data signal, andthe pixel electrode is connected with at least one transistor and thusreceives the data signal.

Recently, various display devices having functions other than imagedisplaying have been researched and developed.

SUMMARY

Embodiments are directed to a display device including a substrate thatincludes a first display area and a second display area. The firstdisplay area includes a plurality of first pixel areas. Each of theplurality of first pixel areas includes one or more first pixels. Thesecond display area includes a plurality of second pixel areas and alight transmittance area. Each of the plurality of second pixel areasincludes one or more second pixels. The light transmittance area hashigher light transmittance than the second pixel area. The first displayarea and the second display area include a common electrode thattransmits a constant common voltage. The common electrode in the seconddisplay area includes a plurality of patterned regions that correspondto a first light transmittance area included in the light transmittancearea. A thickness of the common electrode in the patterned regions issmaller than a thickness of the common electrode in a region other thanthe patterned regions or equals zero. The plurality of patterned regionsand the plurality of second pixel areas extend alternately along a firstdirection in the second display area.

The plurality of second pixel areas in the second display area may bedistanced from each other along the first direction and a seconddirection that is different from the first direction. A second lighttransmittance area included in the light transmittance area is betweentwo of the second pixel areas that neighbor each other, at a distancefrom each other.

In the second display area, the plurality of patterned regions and theplurality of second pixel areas may be alternately arranged along thesecond direction.

The second pixel area may include a first color pixel that represents afirst color, a second color pixel that represents a second color that isdifferent from the first color, and a third color pixel that representsa third color that is different from the first color and the secondcolor.

The first color pixel, the second color pixel, and the third color pixelmay be formed in a same shape as each other and may be arranged in aline in the second pixel area.

One of the second pixel areas may include one of the first color pixel,one of the second color pixel, and one of the third color pixel.

At least two of the first color pixel, the second color pixel, and thethird color pixel may be different in size from each other.

Each of the plurality of second pixel areas may include only one pixelthat represents one color.

The common electrode in the first display area may be continuouslyformed with a uniform thickness.

One of the patterned regions may extend long in the second direction.Two or more of the second pixel areas may be in an area that is adjacentto the patterned region in the first direction.

The second pixel area may include a first color pixel representing afirst color, a second color pixel representing a second color that isdifferent from the first color, and a third pixel representing a thirdcolor that is different from the first color and the second color.

The first color pixel, the second color pixel, and the third color pixelmay be formed in a same shape as each other and arranged in a line inthe second pixel area.

One of the second pixel areas may include one of the first color pixel,one of the second color pixel, and one of the third color pixel.

At least two of the first color pixel, the second color pixel, and thethird color pixel may be different in size from each other.

The common electrode may not be at an outer side of one edge of thepatterned region.

Embodiments are also directed to a display device including a substratethat includes a first display area and a second display area, aplurality of first pixel areas that are in the first display area, aplurality of second pixel areas and a light transmittance area that arein the second display area, a plurality of pixel electrodes that are inthe first pixel area and the second pixel area, an emission layer thatis on the plurality of pixel electrodes, and a common electrode that ison the emission layer of the first pixel area and the second pixel areaand configured to transmit a common voltage. The common electrode in thesecond display area may include a plurality of patterned regions thatcorrespond to the light transmittance area. A thickness of the commonelectrode in the patterned regions may be smaller than a thickness ofthe common electrode in a region other than the patterned regions orequals zero.

In the second display area, the plurality of patterned regions and theplurality of second pixel areas may be alternately arranged along afirst direction.

The plurality of second pixel areas in the second display area may bedistanced from each other in the first direction and a second directionthat is different from the first direction. The light transmittance areamay be between two of the second pixel areas that neighbor each other ata distance from each other.

Embodiments are also directed to a display device including a substratethat includes a first display area and a second display area, aplurality of first pixel areas that are in the first display area, aplurality of second pixel areas and a light transmittance area that arein the second display area, and a common electrode that is in the firstpixel area and in the second pixel area and configured to transmit acommon voltage. The light transmittance area may have higher lighttransmittance than the second pixel area. Each of the plurality ofsecond pixel areas may include a plurality of second pixels that extendin a first direction. The common electrode in the second display areamay include a plurality of patterned regions that correspond to a firstlight transmittance area included in the light transmittance area. Athickness of the common electrode in the patterned region may be smallerthan a thickness of the common electrode in a region other than thepatterned regions or equals zero. Each of the plurality of patterns mayextend in a second direction that is different from the first direction.

The plurality of second pixel areas in the second display area may bedistanced from each other in the second direction. A second lighttransmittance area included in the light transmittance area may bebetween two of the second pixel areas that neighbor each other at adistance from each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features will become apparent to those of skill in the art by describingin detail exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawingsin which:

FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3 illustrate schematic layout views of displayareas of display devices according to the respective exemplaryembodiments,

FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of a display deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment,

FIG. 5 to FIG. 12 illustrate layout views of a first display area DA1and a second display area DA2 of a display device according to each ofthe respective exemplary embodiments,

FIG. 13 to FIG. 20 illustrate a pixel area of a display device accordingto each of the respective exemplary embodiments,

FIG. 21 and FIG. 22 illustrate layout views of a display area of adisplay device according to an exemplary embodiment,

FIG. 23 illustrates a layout view of a display device according to anexemplary embodiment,

FIG. 24 and FIG. 25 illustrate cross-sectional views of the displaydevice shown in FIG. 23, taken along the line Ve-Vf,

FIG. 26 and FIG. 27 illustrate layout views of a display area of adisplay device according to an exemplary embodiment,

FIG. 28 illustrates a layout view of a display area of a display deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment,

FIG. 29 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the display device shownin FIG. 28, taken along the line Va-Vb,

FIG. 30 illustrates a layout view of three adjacent pixels in a displaydevice according to an exemplary embodiment, and

FIG. 31 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the display device shownin FIG. 30, taken along the line Vc-Vd.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings; however, they may be embodied indifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey exemplary implementations to those skilled in the art.

In the drawing figures, the dimensions of layers and regions may beexaggerated for clarity of illustration. It will also be understood thatwhen a layer or element is referred to as being “on” another layer orsubstrate, it can be directly on the other layer or substrate, orintervening layers may also be present. Further, it will be understoodthat when a layer is referred to as being “under” another layer, it canbe directly under, and one or more intervening layers may also bepresent. In addition, it will also be understood that when a layer isreferred to as being “between” two layers, it can be the only layerbetween the two layers, or one or more intervening layers may also bepresent. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

Throughout the specification, the word “on” with respect to a targetelement will be understood to mean positioned above or below the targetelement, and is not necessarily meant to be understood as positionedonly “at an upper side” based on an opposite direction to gravity.

Throughout the specification, the expression, “in a plan view” implies aview observing a plane that is parallel with two directions that crosseach other (e.g., a first direction DR1 and a second direction DR2), andthe expression, “in a cross-sectional view” implies a view observing aplane cut in a direction that is perpendicular to the plane that isparallel with the first direction DR1 and the second direction DR2. Inaddition, when two constituent elements overlap, it implies that the twoconstituent elements overlap in a third direction DR3 (e.g., a directionthat is perpendicular to a top surface of a substrate) unless otherwisestated.

Hereinafter, structures of display devices according to exemplaryembodiments will be described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4. FIG.1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3 illustrate schematic layout views of display areasof display devices according to respective exemplary embodiments, andFIG. 4 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of a display deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, display areas included in display devices1000, 1000 a, 1000 b, and 1000 c according to the respective exemplaryembodiments are areas where an image can be displayed. Each of thedisplay areas may include a first display area DA1 and a second displayarea DA2, which can display an image and may also have another function.

A greater amount of light having a wavelength that is different from awavelength of light of a displayed image may be incident on or emittedfrom the second display area DA2 than in the first display area DA1.

For example, referring to FIG. 4, a display device 1000 according to anexemplary embodiment may include a display panel 30 and an opticalmember 500 that is behind the display panel 30. Light of a wavelengthused by the optical member 500 may pass through the second display areaDA2 with higher light transmittance compared to that of the firstdisplay area DA1.

In the second display area DA2, a ratio of an area where an image can bedisplayed, that is, an area occupied by pixels, may be smaller than aratio of an area occupied by pixels in the first display area DA1.

The second display area DA2 may include a pixel area and a lighttransmittance area. The light transmittance area may have a higher lighttransmittance than the pixel area. When no pixel is in the lighttransmittance area, light of a desired image cannot be displayed. Here,the term “pixel” may refer to a unit area where light of an image isemitted.

Referring to FIG. 1, the second display area DA2 may be surrounded bythe first display area DA1 and may be located at the periphery of oneside of the display device 1000 a in a plan view. For example, in a planview, a portion of the first display area DA1 may be disposed betweenthe second display area DA2 and an edge of the display device 1000 a.For example, the second display area DA2 may be disposed near the upperend of the display device 1000 a and may be formed in the shape of aplane that extends in a first direction DR1 along most of the upper edgeof the display device 1000 a.

Referring to FIG. 2, a second display area DA2 according to the presentexemplary embodiment may be almost the same as the second display areaDA2 shown in FIG. 1, except that a first display area DA1 may not bedisposed at the periphery of at least one side of the second displayarea DA2. For example, in a plan view, one edge of the second displayarea DA2 may match one edge of the display device 1000 b. For example,when the second display area DA2 is located near an upper edge of thedisplay device 1000 b, the first display area DA1 may not be disposed inan upper side of the second display area DA2.

Referring to FIG. 3, a second display area DA2 according to the presentexemplary embodiment may be almost the same as the second display areaDA2 shown in FIG. 2, except that the second display area DA2 may belocated adjacent to a corner or near the corner of a display device 1000c. In a plan view, one edge of the second display area DA2 may match onecorner of the display device 1000 c. For example, when the seconddisplay area DA2 is located near an upper corner of the display device1000 c, one edge of the second display area DA2 may match one edge ofone upper corner of the first display area DA1.

In some implementations, the second display area DA2 may be disposed atvarious locations in the display area of the display device with variousplanar shapes. As examples, the second display area DA2 may have acircular planar shape located near an upper edge of the display area.

Referring to FIG. 4, the display panel 30 of the display device 1000 mayinclude a substrate 10 disposed in the above-described first area DA1and second area DA2. For example, the substrate 10 may be continuouslyformed in the second display area DA2 and no removed portion may exist.

A plurality of pixels PX may be formed between the substrate 10 and anencapsulation substrate 20. A sealant 310 that is disposed between thesubstrate 10 and the substrate 20 may be further located at an edge ofthe display panel 30. An optical member 500 may be disposed below thedisplay panel 30. The optical member 500 may be, for example, a camera,a flash, a sensor, or the like.

The optical member 500 may emit light of a constant wavelength lengthtoward an object 600 that is located on the display panel 30 or mayreceive light reflected by the object 600. Light of such a constantwavelength can be processed by the optical member 500. The light may belight of a wavelength other than a visible light region, which is lightof an image displayed on the pixel PX. The light of the constantwavelength may substantially pass through the light transmittance arealocated in the second display area DA2. When the optical member 500 aninfrared camera, light of the given wavelength may be infrared light,for example, of about 900 nm to 1000 nm.

The optical member 500 may correspond to the entire area of the seconddisplay area DA2 in a plan view or may only correspond to only some ofthe second display area DA2. For example, the optical member 500 may bedisposed to correspond to some of the second display area DA2 shown inFIG. 1.

A first display area DA1 and a second display area DA2 of a displaydevice according to exemplary embodiments will be described withreference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 20, together with the above-describeddrawings.

FIG. 5 to FIG. 12 are layout views of a first display area DA1 and asecond display area DA2 of a display device according to each of therespective exemplary embodiments FIG. 13 to FIG. 20 show a pixel area ofa display device according to each of the respective exemplaryembodiments.

A first display area DA1 may include a plurality of pixel areas PU1. Asecond display area DA2 may include a plurality of pixel areas PU2 and alight transmittance area TA.

In the first display area DA1, the plurality of pixel areas PU1 may bearranged, for example, in a matrix format in which a first direction DR1and a second direction DR2 or two diagonal directions that cross eachother are rows and columns. In the second display area DA2, theplurality of pixel areas PU2 and the light transmittance areas TA may bearranged, for example, in a matrix format. Herein, the term “diagonaldirection” refers to a direction that crosses both of the firstdirection DR1 and the second direction DR2.

Each of the pixel areas PU1 and PU2 may include a plurality of pixels ora single pixel. A structure of the pixel area PU1 and a structure of thepixel area PU2 may be equal to or different from each other. Twoneighboring pixel areas PU1 in the first display area DA1 may have thesame or different structures, and two neighboring pixel areas PU2 in thesecond display area DA2 may have the same or different structures. Forexample, two pixel areas PU1 that neighbor each other in a row or columndirection in the first display area DA1 may have structures that aresymmetrical to each other, and two pixels PU2 that neighbor each otherin a row or column direction in the second display area DA2 may havestructures that are symmetrical to each other.

FIG. 13 to FIG. 20 respectively illustrate the respective pixel areasPU1 and PU2.

Referring to FIG. 13 to FIG. 18, each pixel area PU1 and/or pixel areaPU2 may include a plurality of pixels, each outputting a differentcolor. The plurality of pixels included in each of the pixel areas PU1and PU2 may output three primary colors of red, green, and blue or fourprimary colors, or may output cyan, magenta, yellow, and/or white. Forexample, each pixel area PU1 and/or pixel area PU2 may include a redpixel R, a green pixel G, and a blue pixel B.

FIG. 13 to FIG. 15 and FIG. 17 illustrate examples in which each pixelarea PU1 and/or pixel area PU2 includes one red pixel R, one green pixelG, and one blue pixel B.

In an exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 13, pixels R, G, and B includedin one pixel area PUa may have the same shape such as, e.g., arectangle, and may be arranged in one direction.

In an exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 14, pixels R, G, and B includedin one pixel area PUb may respectively have substantially rectangularshapes. Two among the three pixels R, G, and B, for example, a red pixelR and a green pixel G, may be arranged vertically neighboring eachother, and the remaining one, which is a green pixel G, may be arrangedin a vertical direction at one side of the red pixel R and the greenpixel G. The red pixel R and the green pixel G may respectively extendin a horizontal direction.

In an exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 15, pixels R, G, and B includedin one pixel area PUc may respectively have substantially rhombusshapes. The red pixel R, the green pixel G, and the blue pixel B may bedifferent from each other in size. For example, the blue pixel B may bethe largest and the green pixel G may be the smallest.

FIG. 16 shows an example in which a pixel area PU1 and/or a pixel areaPU2 includes one red pixel R, one blue pixel B, and two green pixels G.Each of the pixels R, G, and B included in each pixel area PUd maysubstantially have a rhombus shape. The red pixel R, the green pixels G,and the blue pixel B may be different from each other in size. Forexample, the blue pixel B may be the largest and the green pixels G maybe the smallest.

Exemplary embodiments of FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 are almost the same as theexemplary embodiments of FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, respectively, except thatlocations of a red pixel R and a blue pixel B included in one pixel areaPUe and PUf may be opposite to the locations of the red pixel R and theblue pixel B in the pixel areas PUc and PUd shown in FIG. 15 and FIG.16.

Referring to FIG. 19 and FIG. 20, each pixel area PU1 and/or pixel areaPU2 may include only one pixel that represents the same color. Forexample, FIG. 19 and FIG. 20 exemplarily illustrate that one of pixelareas PUg and PUh includes only a red pixel R, but this is notrestrictive. Each of the pixel areas Pug and PUh may include only agreen pixel G or only a blue pixel B. In this case, a second displayarea DA2 can display one single color among red, green, and blue.

Referring to FIG. 19, a pixel R included in one pixel area PUg may besubstantially formed in the shape of a rhombus.

Referring to FIG. 20, a pixel R included in one pixel area PUh may besubstantially formed in the shape of a rectangle.

In the exemplary embodiments shown in FIG. 13 to FIG. 20, the order, thearrangement, and the number the red pixel R, the green pixel G, and theblue pixel B shown in the drawings, and the order, arrangement, andcolors can be variously changed. For example, in the exemplaryembodiment shown in FIG. 16, the red pixel R, the green pixel G, theblue pixel B, and the green pixel G are illustrated in such an order,but they may be arranged in an order of the red pixel R, the blue pixelB, the green pixel G, and the blue pixel B.

Referring to FIG. 5, in the second display area DA2, the lighttransmittance area TA may be disposed between two pixels PU2 that areadjacent to each other in the first direction DR1, the second directionDR2, and the diagonal direction. For example, the pixel areas PU2 andthe light transmittance areas TA may be alternately arranged in thefirst direction DR1, in the second direction DR2, and in the diagonaldirection.

As previously described, the light transmittance area TA has higherlight transmittance than the pixel area PU2. A pixel, which is an imagedisplay unit that can emit light to display an image, may not be formedin the light transmittance area TA.

In the second display area DA2, the area of each of the lighttransmittance areas TA between two pixels PU2 adjacent in the firstdirection DR1 and the second direction DR2 may be the same as, similarto, or different from the area of one pixel area PU2. In someimplementations, the area of the light transmittance area TA may varyrather than being constant. One light transmittance area TA having anarea that corresponds to one pixel area PU2 may be referred to as a“unit light transmittance area TA.”

In the display device according to the exemplary embodiment, commonelectrodes 270 may be in the first display area DA1 and the seconddisplay area DA2. The common electrode 270 in the first display area DA1and the common electrode 270 in the second display area DA2 may beconnected with each other as one electrode and may transmit a constantcommon voltage.

The common electrode 270 in the first display area DA1 may becontinuously formed as a single electrode without having a cutout, anopening, a pattern, or the like. For example, the common electrode 270disposed in the first display area DA1 may have a substantially uniformthickness.

The common electrode 270 disposed in the second display area DA2 mayhave a plurality of patterned regions 275. In a plan view, the pluralityof patterned regions 275 may correspond to at least a part of the lighttransmittance areas TA. The common electrode 270 other than in thepatterned regions 275 may be in the pixel areas PU2. In a plan view, thepatterned regions 275 of the common electrode 270 may have a planarshape corresponding to almost the entire area of the light transmittanceareas TA.

In the patterned regions 275, the common electrode 270 may be completelyremoved. Thus, an opened region may be formed. The common electrode 270may be partially removed in a thickness direction in a cross-sectionalview such that the thickness may be thinner than that of the commonelectrode 270 formed in areas other than the patterned regions 275. Thatis, a thickness of the common electrode 270 corresponding to the lighttransmittance area TA may be less than the thickness of the commonelectrode 270 that corresponds to the pixel area PU2, or may be zero.

Accordingly, light transmittance in the light transmittance area TA maybe higher than light transmittance in the pixel areas PU1 and PU2. Lighttransmittance in the light transmittance area TA may be high when lightemitted from or incident on the optical member 500 that is disposedbehind the display panel passes through the display panel. Accordingly,a recognition rate, sensing accuracy, or the like with respect to theobject 600 to be recognized by the optical member 500 may be increased.In particular, when the common electrode 270 includes silver (Ag) andthe optical member 500 includes an infrared camera, light transmittanceof light in an infrared ray area may be more increased when the commonelectrode 270 in the second display area DA2 includes the patternedregions 275.

When the light transmittance areas TA and the pixel areas PU2 arearranged in a regular arrangement format in the second display area DA2,an image may be be displayed in the second display area DA2 as in thefirst display area DA1. The second display area Da2 may providefunctions other than image displaying by using the optical member 500.

Resolution of the second display area DA2 may be lower than that of thefirst display area DA1. However, when the pixel areas PU2 and the lighttransmittance areas TA (i.e., the patterned regions 275 of the commonelectrode 270) are regularly alternately arranged in the second displayarea DA2, deterioration of quality of a displayed image may beprevented. For example, the pixel area PU2 of the second display areaDA2 may include one red pixel R, one green pixel G, and one blue pixel Bas shown in FIG. 13, FIG. 14, FIG. 15, and FIG. 17, and the pixel areaPU2 may be substantially close to a square in shape. Accordingly, whensuch a pixel area PU2 is regularly alternately arranged with the lighttransmittance areas TA, light transmittance may be increased whilepreventing deterioration of image quality.

Referring to FIG. 5, in a plan view, a portion of the common electrode270 disposed in the pixel areas PU2 surrounded by the lighttransmittance portions TA may be connected with the rest of the commonelectrode 270 through a bridge 70 included in the common electrode 270.The bridge 70 may prevent electrical disconnection therebetween. In thepresent exemplary embodiment, the bridge 70 may cross a boundary betweentwo unit light transmittance areas TA, or may substantially extend inthe first direction DR1 or the second direction DR2.

Portions of the common electrode 270, excluding the patterned regions275 of the common electrode 270 in the second display area DA2, may bealternately arranged with the unit light transmittance areas TA in thefirst direction DR1 and the second direction DR2.

The common electrode 270 disposed in the second display area DA2 mayinclude an edge portion 270 a that is disposed at a side that does notneighbor the first display area DA1. In some implementations, the edgeportion 270 a may be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 6, a display device according to the present exemplaryembodiment may be almost the same as the display device according to theexemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5, except for a structure of a seconddisplay area DA2. The description will focus on the differences from theabove-described embodiment, and the same description will not berepeated.

Light transmittance areas TA may be disposed between two pixel areas PU2that neighbor each other in a first direction DR1 and a second directionDR2 in a second display area DA2. For example, the pixel areas PU2 andthe light transmittance areas TA may be alternately arranged in thefirst direction DR1 and the second direction DR2. A plurality of pixelareas PU may neighbor each other in the diagonal direction.

In a plan view, a portion of the common electrode 270 disposed in thepixel areas PU2 surrounded by the light transmittance portions TA may beconnected with the rest of the common electrode 270 through a bridge 70included in the common electrode 270 to thereby prevent electricaldisconnection therebetween. In the present exemplary embodiment, thebridge may connect two portions of the common electrode 270 thatcorrespond to two pixel areas PU2 neighboring each other along onediagonal direction while crossing a boundary between two unittransmittance areas TA that neighbor each other along another diagonaldirection.

In the second display area DA2, patterned regions 275 of the commonelectrode 270 may neighbor each other along a diagonal direction.Accordingly, portions excluding the patterned regions 275 of the commonelectrode 270 in the second display area DA2 may be alternately arrangedwith the unit light transmittance areas TA in the first direction DR1and the second direction DR2 and may be arranged to neighbor each otherin the diagonal directions. The unit light transmittance areas TA maynot be disposed therebetween in the diagonal directions.

A size of one patterned region 275 may be the same as or similar to asize of one pixel area PU2.

Other features described with respect to the exemplary embodiment shownin FIG. 5 may be equally applied to the exemplary embodiment shown inFIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 7, a display device according to the present exemplaryembodiment may be almost the same as the display device according to theexemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5, except for a structure of a seconddisplay area DA2.

In the second display area DA2 shown in FIG. 7, pixel areas PU2 locatedin the third and fifth columns may be shifted one row down or one rowup. For example, a plurality of pixel areas PU2 that are disposed indifferent neighboring columns may be arranged in a zigzagged formatalong the second direction DR2

Accordingly, three unit light transmittance areas TA may be disposedbetween two pixel areas PU2 that neighbor each other in the firstdirection DR1, and one unit light transmittance area TA may be disposedbetween two pixel areas PU2 that neighbor each other in the seconddirection DR2.

Portions excluding patterned regions 275 of a common electrode 270 inthe second display area DA2 may be alternately arranged with three unitlight transmittance areas TA in the first direction DR1, and may bealternately arranged with one unit light transmittance area TA in thesecond direction DR2.

The features of the above-described exemplary embodiments may be equallyapplied to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 7

Referring to FIG. 8, a display device according to the present exemplaryembodiment may be almost the same as the display device according to theexemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5, except for a structure of a seconddisplay area DA2.

A plurality of pixel areas PU2 in the second display area DA2 may bearranged in a plurality of columns C1, C2, C3, and C4. A plurality ofpixel areas PU2 arranged in the second direction DR2 may be located ineach of the columns C1, C2, C3, and C4. A plurality of unit lighttransmittance areas TA arranged in the second direction DR2 or a lighttransmittance area TA that extends in the second direction DR2 may belocated between two neighboring columns C1, C2, C3, and C4. A lighttransmittance area TA may not be located between two pixel areas PU2that neighbor each other in the second direction DR2 in each of thecolumns C1, C2, C3, and C4. A plurality of pixel areas PU2 may bedisposed adjacent a side (i.e., an area adjacent in the first directionDR1) of one continuous light transmittance area TA that extends in thesecond direction DR2.

Patterned regions 275 of a common electrode 270 may respectively extendin the second direction DR2 in the second display area DA2 and maycorrespond to the plurality of unit light transmittance areas TA thatare arranged in the second direction DR2. Two patterned regions 275 thatneighbor each other in the first direction DR1 may be separated fromeach other by as much as a length of at least one pixel area PU2 in thefirst direction DR1.

The features of the above-described exemplary embodiments may be equallyapplied to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 8.

Referring to FIG. 9, a display device according to the present exemplaryembodiment may be almost the same as the display device according to theexemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 8, except for a structure of a seconddisplay area DA2.

In second display area DA2, each of the plurality of columns C1, C2, andC3 may include a plurality of pixel areas PU2 that are arranged in azigzag format in a second direction DR2, and a plurality of unit lighttransmittance areas TA. With respect to each of the columns C1, C2, andC3, a pair of one pixel area PU2 and one unit light transmittance areaTA that neighbor each other sequentially in the first direction DR1, anda pair of one unit light transmittance area TA and one pixel area PU2that neighbor each other sequentially in the first direction DR1, may bealternately arranged in the second direction DR2.

The plurality of unit light transmittance areas TA that are arranged inthe second direction DR2 or one continuously light transmittance area TAthat extends in the second direction DR2 may be disposed between two ofneighboring columns C1, C2, and C3.

The features of the above-described embodiments may be equally appliedto the embodiment shown in FIG. 9.

Next, referring to FIG. 10, a display device according to the presentexemplary embodiment may be the same as the display device according tothe exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 9, except for a structure of asecond display area DA2.

In a second display area DA2, a plurality of columns C1, C2, and C3 mayrespectively include a plurality of pixel areas PU2 that are arranged ina zigzag format in a second direction DR2. Two pixel areas PU2 thatneighbor each other in the second direction DR2 may include a portionwhere the two pixels areas PU2 overlap with each other in the seconddirection DR2. For example, two pixel areas PU2 that are disposed in tworows that neighbor each other in each of the columns C1, C2, and C3 mayshare a part of edges thereof. Accordingly, a width of one column of C1,C2, and C3 may be smaller than a width of one column of C1, C2, and C3of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 9 in the first direction DR1.

A plurality of unit light transmittance areas TA that form onezigzag-shaped column may be disposed between two neighboring columns C1,C2, and C3. A plurality of unit light transmittance areas TA disposed inone column may be arranged in a zigzag format in a second direction DR2.Two unit light transmittance areas TA that neighbor each other in thesecond direction DR2 may include portions that overlap with each otherin the second direction. Unit light transmittance areas TA that neighboreach other in the second direction DR2 in each column may share a partof edges.

Patterned regions 275 of the common electrode 270 respectively extend inthe second direction DR2 and may correspond to the plurality of unitlight transmittance areas TA arranged in the second direction DR2. Eachof the patterned regions 275 may be alternately protruded to the leftand right.

The features of the above-described embodiments may be equally appliedto the embodiment shown in FIG. 10.

Referring to FIG. 11, a plurality of pixel areas PU2 that are adjacentto each other may form one group. A plurality of groups may be arrangedin a first direction DR1 and a second direction DR2. Neighboring groupsmay be distanced from each other, with a light transmittance area TAdisposed therebetween. FIG. 11 shows an example in which one groupincludes two pixel areas PU2 that are adjacent to each other in thesecond direction DR2.

In the second display area DA2, a patterned region 275 of a commonelectrode 270 may be disposed corresponding to light transmittance areasTA. The patterned region 275 may include a portion extending in thesecond direction DR2 and a portion extending in the first direction DR1.A bridge that is connected with pixel areas PU2 may be disposed in amiddle of a portion of the light transmittance area TA and may extend inthe first direction DR1, and/or a portion of the light transmittancearea TA, and may extend in the second direction DR2.

The features of the above-described embodiments may be equally appliedto the embodiment shown in FIG. 11.

Referring to FIG. 12, a display device according to the presentexemplary embodiment may be almost the same as the display deviceaccording to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 11, except that onegroup includes two pixel areas PU2 that are adjacent to each other in afirst direction DR1.

In a second display area DA2, a patterned region 275 of a commonelectrode 270 may be disposed corresponding to light transmittance areasTA. The patterned region 275 may include a portion extending in thesecond direction DR2 and a portion extending in the first direction DR1.A bridge 70 that is connected with pixel areas PU2 may be disposed in amiddle of a portion of the light transmittance area TA, and extending inthe first direction DR1, and/or a portion of the light transmittancearea TA, and extending in the second direction DR2.

The features of the above-described embodiments may be equally appliedto the embodiment shown in FIG. 12

Hereinafter, examples of detailed structures of first and second displayareas DA1 and DA2 of a display device according to an exemplaryembodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 21 to FIG. 27,together with the above-described exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 21 and FIG. 22 are layout views of a display area of a displaydevice according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 23 is a layout view ofa display device according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 24 and FIG.25 are cross-sectional views of the display device shown in FIG. 23,taken along the line Ve-Vf. FIG. 26 and FIG. 27 are layout views of adisplay area of a display device according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 21, a part of a plurality of pixel areas PU1 includedin a first display area DA of a display device according to an exemplaryembodiment may be the pixel areas PUd in the above-described exemplaryembodiment shown in FIG. 16. A part of the rest of the pixel areas PU1may be the same as the pixel area PUf shown in FIG. 18. For example, thepixel areas PUd and the pixel areas PUf may be alternately arranged inthe second direction DR2, or the pixel areas PUd may be iterativelyarranged in the first direction DR1 and the pixel areas PUf may beiteratively arranged in the first direction DR1 in each row.

For example, red pixels R and blue pixels B may be alternately arrangedin the first direction DR1 and the second direction DR2, the red pixelsR and green pixels G may be alternately arranged in a diagonaldirection, and the blue pixels B and the green pixels G are alternatelyarranged in another diagonal direction.

A common electrode 270 disposed in first display area DA1 may be formedas a single continuous electrode without having a cutout, an opening, ora pattern.

Referring to FIG. 22, a plurality of pixel areas PU1 included in thefirst display area DA1 of the display device according to the exemplaryembodiment may be the same as the pixel areas PUa shown in FIG. 13. Forexample, the red pixels R may be arranged in the second direction DR2 ina pixel column that includes the red pixels R, the green pixels G may bearranged in the second direction DR2 in a pixel column that includes thegreen pixels G, and the blue pixels B may be arranged in the seconddirection DR2 in a pixel column that includes the blue pixels B. Thepixel column that includes the red pixels R, the pixel column thatincludes the green pixels G, and the pixel column that includes the bluepixels B may be iteratively arranged.

A structure of the pixel area in the first display area DA1 may bevariously modified.

Referring to FIG. 23 to FIG. 25, a part of a plurality of pixel areasPU2 included in a second display area DA of a display device accordingto an exemplary embodiment may be the same as the pixel areas PUc shownin FIG. 15. A part of the rest of the pixel areas PU2 may be the same asthe pixel areas PUe shown in FIG. 17. An arrangement format of pixelareas PU2 and light transmittance areas TA in the second display areaDA2 may be the same as the above-described exemplary embodiment shown inFIG. 6.

The pixel area PU2 may not be disposed in the light transmittance areaTA. Patterned regions 275 of a common electrode 270 may be locatedcorrespondingly in at least a part of the light transmittance area TA.The plurality of light transmittance areas TA may be regularly arrangedat a distance from each other in the second display area DA2.

FIG. 24 and FIG. 25 show a cross-sectional structure of the patternedregion of the above-described common electrode 270 in detail. As shownin FIG. 24, the common electrode 270 may be completely removed in thepatterned region 275. As shown in FIG. 25, a thickness of the commonelectrode 270 in the patterned region 275 may be thinner than athickness of the remaining part of the common electrode 270.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 25, the common electrode 270may include a first layer 270 c and a second layer 270 b. The patternedregion 275 includes only the first layer 270 c. The common electrode270, excluding the patterned region 275, may include both of the firstlayer 270 c and the second layer 270 b. The first layer 270 c and thesecond layer 270 b may have the same thickness or different thicknesses.

In a manufacturing process of such a common electrode 270, the firstlayer 270 c may be formed first throughout the entire area of the firstdisplay area DA1 and the second display area DA2. Then, the second layer270 b may be patterned on the first layer 270 c through variouspatterning processes. The patterned second layer 270 b may be formedonly in the common electrode 270, excluding the patterned region 275,and may not be formed in the patterned regions 275.

Next, referring to FIG. 26, a plurality of pixel areas PU2 included in asecond display area DA2 of a display device according to an exemplaryembodiment may be the same as the pixel areas PUc and PUe shown in FIG.15 and FIG. 17. In addition, an arrangement format of the pixel areasPU2 of the second display area DA2 may be the same as in theabove-described exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 10.

Patterned regions 275 of a common electrode 270 may respectively extendin a second direction DR2. The plurality of patterned regions 275 mayextend in a first direction DR1 at a distance from each other. Thepatterned regions 275 of the common electrode 270 may have an edge thatmatches an upper edge of the second display area DA2. Thus, in someimplementations, the common electrode 270 may not be located at an outerside (e.g., an upper side) of one edge of each patterned region 275. Forexample, the common electrode 270 may not include the above-describededge portion 270 a.

Green pixels G may be further located in an area where the pixel areasPU2 are formed in a zigzag pattern in the second direction DR2. Thegreen pixels G may be disposed on a boundary between two pixel areas PU2that are adjacent to each other in the second direction DR2.

Light transmittance areas TAa where pixels are not formed may bedisposed between two pixel areas PU2 that neighbor each other in thesecond direction DR2. The light transmittance area TAa may be similar tothe light transmittance area TA. The common electrode 270 may be formedin the light transmittance areas TAa.

Next, referring to FIG. 27, a plurality of pixel areas PU2 included in asecond display area DA2 of a display device according to an exemplaryembodiment may be the same as the pixel areas PUd and PUf shown in FIG.16 and FIG. 18. An arrangement format of the pixel areas PU2 in thesecond display area DA2 may be the same as the above-described exemplaryembodiment of FIG. 5.

Patterned regions 275 of a common electrode 270 may be almost the sameas those according to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 26, but anupper end edge of the patterned region 275 may not match an upper endedge of the second display area DA2. Thus, an edge portion 270 a of thecommon electrode 270 may be located at an upper side of the upper edgeof each of the patterned regions 275 on the plane.

Light transmittance areas TAa where no pixel is formed may be locatedbetween two pixel areas PU2 that neighbor each other in the seconddirection DR2. The light transmittance area TAa may be similar to thelight transmittance area TA. However, the common electrode 270 may beformed in the light transmittance area TAa.

A structure of an example in which a display device according to anexemplary embodiment is provided as a light emission device will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 28 and FIG. 29, together with theabove-described drawings.

FIG. 28 illustrates a layout view of a display area of a display deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment, and FIG. 29 illustrates across-sectional view of the display device shown in FIG. 28, taken alongthe line Va-Vb.

Referring to FIG. 28, a display device according to an exemplaryembodiment may include a plurality of pixel circuit areas PXA wherepixel circuits are formed corresponding to a plurality of pixels R, G,and B. The plurality of pixel circuit areas PXA may be arranged in amatrix formed in a first direction DR1 and a second direction DR2.

Each pixel circuit area PXA may include a plurality of transistors T1,T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, and T7 that are connected with a plurality of scanlines 151, 152, and 152′, a control line 153, a data line 171, and adriving voltage line 172.

The plurality of scan lines 151, 152, and 152′ may transmit a scansignal. The scan line 152 may transmit a scan signal of a previousstage, and the scan line 152′ may transmit a scan signal of the nextstage. The control line 153 may transmit a control signal. For example,the control line 153 may transmit a light emission control signal tocontrol the emission of light emitting diodes corresponding to thepixels R, G, and B.

The data line 171 may transmit a data signal Dm. The driving voltageline 172 may transmit a driving voltage ELVDD. The driving voltage line172 may include a plurality of expansion portions 178 that protrudetoward the first direction DR1.

A channel of each of the plurality of transistors T1, T2, T3, T4, T5,T6, and T7 may be formed in an active pattern 130. The active pattern130 may be bent in various shapes and may includeamorphous/polycrystalline silicon or a semiconductor material such as anoxide semiconductor. For example, the transistor T1 may include achannel region 131 a of the active pattern 130 that is bent at leastonce.

A display device according to an exemplary embodiment may include aplurality of pixel electrodes 191 a, 191 b, and 191 c that correspond tothe respective pixel circuit areas PXA, and a voltage line 192. Thepixel electrodes 191 a, 191 b, and 191 c may be respectively disposedcorresponding to the pixels R, G, and B. The pixel electrode 191 a ofthe red pixel R may be smaller than the pixel electrode 191 c of theblue pixel B, and the pixel electrode 191 b of the green pixel G may besmaller than the pixel electrode 191 a of the red pixel R.

The voltage line 192 may be bent along the periphery of edges of theadjacent pixel electrodes 191 a, 191 b, and 191 c. The voltage line 192may transmit a constant voltage such as an initialization voltage toinitialize one node in the pixel circuit area PXA.

A cross-sectional structure of the display device according to theexemplary embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 29,together with FIG. 28.

The display device according to the exemplary embodiment may include asubstrate 110.

A buffer layer 120, which is an insulation layer, may be on thesubstrate 110. The active pattern 130 may be on the buffer layer 120.The active pattern 130 may include channel regions 131 a, 131 b, and 131f, and a conductive region 131. A conductive region 131 may be atopposite sides of each of the channel regions 131 a, 131 b, and 131 f.The conductive region 131 may become a source region and a drain region,respectively, of the corresponding transistor.

A gate insulation layer 140 may be on the active pattern 130.

A first conductive layer that includes the plurality of scan lines 151,152, and 152′, the control line 153, and a driving gate electrode 155 amay be disposed on the gate insulation layer 140.

An interlayer insulation layer 160 may be on the first conductive layerand the gate insulation layer 140.

At least one of the buffer layer 120, the gate insulation layer 140, andthe interlayer insulation layer 160 may include an inorganic insulationmaterial e.g., a silicon nitride, a silicon oxide, a silicon oxynitride,or the like, or an organic insulation material.

The interlayer insulation layer 160 and the gate insulation layer 140may include a contact hole 62 extending through a source regionconnected to the channel region 131 b of the transistor T2 in theconductive area 131 of the active pattern 130 and a contact hole 66 thatextends through a drain region connected to the channel region 131 f ofthe transistor T6 in the conductive area 131 of the active pattern 130.

A second conductive layer that includes the data line 171, the drivingvoltage line 172, and a connecting member 179 may be disposed on theinterlayer insulation layer 160.

The data line 171 may be connected with a source region connected to thechannel region 131 b of the transistor T2 through the contact hole 62.The expansion portion 178 of the driving voltage line 172 may form acapacitor Cst by overlapping the driving gate electrode 155 a, whiledisposing the interlayer insulation layer 160 therebetween. Theconnecting member 179 may be connected with a drain region connected tothe channel region 131 f of the transistor T6 through the contact hole66.

At least one of the first conductive layer and the second conductivelayer may include a metal, e.g., copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), molybdenum(Mo), titanium (Ti), tantalum (Ta), or an alloy of at least two ofthese.

A passivation layer 180 may be on the second conductive layer and theinterlayer insulation layer 160. The passivation layer 180 may includean organic insulation material such as a poly-acrylic resin, a polyimideresin, or the like, and may have a substantially flat top surface. Thepassivation layer 180 may include a contact hole 81 that extends throughon the connecting member 179.

A third conductive layer that includes the pixel electrodes 191 a, 191b, and 191 c and the voltage line 192 may be on the passivation layer180. Each of the pixel electrodes 191 a, 191 b, and 191 c may beconnected with the connecting member 179 through the contact hole 81.The third conductive layer may include a semi-transmissive conductivematerial or a reflective conductive material.

An insulation layer 350 may be on the third conductive layer. Theinsulation layer 350 may include an organic insulation material and mayinclude an opening 351 that exposes the respective pixel electrodes 191a, 191 b, and 191 c.

An emission layer 370 may be on the pixel electrodes 191 a, 191 b, and191 c. The emission layer 370 may include a portion inside the opening351, and a portion on the insulation layer 350. The emission layer 370may include an organic light emitting material or an inorganic lightemitting material.

A common electrode 270 may be on the emission layer 370 and theinsulation layer 350. The common electrode 270 may also be formed on theinsulation layer 350. The common electrode 270 may include a conductivetransparent material. The common electrode 270 may include silver (Ag).

A common layer such as a hole injection layer, a hole transfer layer, anelectron injection layer, an electron transfer layer, and the like maybe disposed between the insulation layer 350 and the common electrode270, between the emission layer 370 and the common electrode 270, and/orbetween the emission layer 370 and the pixel electrodes 191 a, 191 b,and 191 c. The common layer may be formed through the first display areaDA and the second display area DA2.

Each of the pixel electrodes 191 a, 191 b, and 191 c, the emission layer370, and the common electrode 270 may form an emitting diode ED, whichis an emitting element. The common electrode 270 may form a cathode andthe pixel electrodes 191 a, 191 b, and 191 c may form an anode, or viceversa.

The first display area DA1 may have a structure that is the same asshown in FIG. 28 and FIG. 29.

A planar structure and a cross-sectional structure of a pixel area PU2of the second display area DA2 may have a structure that is a part ofthe structure shown in FIG. 28 and the structure shown in FIG. 29.

In a light transmittance area TA of the second display area DA2, thecommon electrode 270 may be removed in a pattern area 275 as shown inFIG. 24 or may be more thinly stacked than at the periphery thereof asshown in FIG. 25.

In the light transmittance area TA, at least a part of the structuresshown in FIG. 28 and FIG. 29, for example, at least some of the activepattern 130, the driving gate electrode 155 a, the expansion portion 178of the driving voltage line 172, the pixel electrodes 191 a, 191 b, and191 c, and the emission layer 370, may be removed. Accordingly, lighttransmittance in the light transmittance area TA may be higher thanlight transmittance in pixel areas PU1 and PU2.

A structure of a display device, which is exemplarily provided as aliquid crystal display, according to an exemplary embodiment will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 30 and FIG. 31, together with theabove-described drawings.

FIG. 30 is a layout view of three adjacent pixels in a display deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment, and FIG. 31 is a cross-sectionalview of the display device shown in FIG. 30, taken along the line Vc-Vd.

As a liquid crystal display, a display device according to an exemplaryembodiment may include a first display panel 100, a second display panel200, and a liquid crystal layer 3 disposed between the two displaypanels 100 and 200 in a plan view.

The above-described first display area DA may include a plurality ofpixels PXa, PXb, and PXc. The plurality of pixels PXa, PXb, and PXc maybe iteratively arranged in a first direction DR1 and a second directionDR2.

The first display panel 100 may include a gate conductive layer thatincludes gate lines 121, storage electrode lines 132, dummy patterns129, and the like, on the substrate 110.

The gate line 121 extends substantially in the first direction DR1. Thegate line 121 may transmit a gate signal. The gate line 121 may includea first gate electrode 124 a and a second gate electrode that aredisposed in each of the pixels PXa, PXb, and PXc.

The storage electrode line 132 may include a horizontal portion 132 athat extends substantially in parallel with the gate line 121, and avertical portion 132 b that is connected to the horizontal line 132 a.The vertical portion 132 b of the storage electrode line 132 may extendalong a boundary between two adjacent pixels of P×a, P×b, and PXc.

The dummy pattern 129 may be between the horizontal portion 132 a of theadjacent storage electrode line 132 and the gate line 121. Each dummypattern 129 may have an island-like shape.

A gate insulation layer 141 may be on the gate conductive layer. Asemiconductor layer that includes a first semiconductor 154 a and asecond semiconductor may be disposed on the gate insulation layer 141.The first semiconductor 154 a may overlap a first gate electrode 124 a,and the second semiconductor may overlap a second gate electrode. Thesemiconductor layer may include amorphous silicon, polysilicon, or ametal oxide.

Ohmic contact members 163 a and 165 a may be disposed on thesemiconductor layer.

A plurality of data lines that include a first data line 171 a and asecond data line 171 b, and a data conductor layer that includes aplurality of first drain electrodes 175 a and a plurality of seconddrain electrodes may be on the ohmic contact members 163 a and 165 a.

The first data line 171 a may include a first source electrode 173 athat overlaps the first gate electrode 124 a, and the second data line171 b may include a second source electrode that overlaps the secondgate electrode.

The first drain electrode 175 a and the second drain electrode may eachinclude a bar-shaped end portion and an expansion portion 177 a, whichis a wide end portion. Each drain electrode 175 a may overlap the dummypattern 129 of the gate conductive layer.

The first gate electrode 124 a, the first source electrode 173 a, andthe first drain electrode 175 a form a first transistor Qa together withthe first semiconductor 154 a, and the second gate electrode, the secondsource electrode, and the second drain electrode form a secondtransistor Qb together with the second semiconductor. The first andsecond transistors Qa and Qb may function as switches that transmit adata voltage transmitted by the first and second data lines 171 a and171 b according to a gate signal transmitted by the gate line 121.

An area where the gate line 121, the horizontal portion 132 a of thestorage electrode line 132, and the first and second transistors Qa andQb are disposed may be covered by a light blocking member 220. The lightblocking member 220 may extend substantially in the first direction DR1and thus may form a light blocking area of each of the pixels PXa, PXb,and PXc.

A first insulation layer 180 a may be on the data conductive layer. Thefirst insulation layer 180 a may include an organic insulating materialor an inorganic insulating material.

A plurality of color filters 230 a and 230 b may be on the firstinsulation layer 180 a. Each of the color filters 230 a and 230 b mayinclude an opening 235 a that overlaps the expansion portion 177 a ofthe first and second drain electrodes 175 a.

A second insulation layer 180 b may be on the color filters 230 a and230 b. The second insulation layer 180 b may include an inorganicinsulating material or an organic insulating material, and specificallyincludes an organic insulating material and thus may substantially havea flat top surface.

The first insulation layer 180 a and the second insulation layer 180 bmay include a contact hole 185 a on the expansion portion 177 a of thefirst drain electrode 175 a, and a contact hole on an expansion portionof the second drain electrode.

A pixel electrode that includes a plurality of first sub-pixelelectrodes 191 cc and a plurality of second sub-pixel electrodes 191 dd,and a pixel electrode layer that includes a shield electrode 199 may beon the second insulation layer 180 b.

The overall shape of each of the first and second sub-pixel electrodes191 aa and 191 dd may be quadrangular. Each first sub-pixel electrode191 cc may include a cross-shaped stem portion that includes ahorizontal stem 192 c and a vertical stem 193 c, and a plurality ofbranch portions 194 c that extend to the outside from the cross-shapedstem portion. Each second sub-pixel electrode 191 dd may include across-shaped stem portion that includes a horizontal stem 192 d and avertical stem 193 d, and a plurality of branch portions 194 d thatextend to the outside from the cross-shaped stem portion.

The first sub-pixel electrode 191 cc may include an extension portion195 c that protrudes toward the expansion portion 177 a of the firstdrain electrode 175 a and a contact portion 196 c that is connected tothe end of the extension portion 195 c, and the second sub-pixelelectrode 191 dd may include an extension portion 195 d that protrudestoward the expansion portion of the second drain electrode and a contactportion 196 d that is connected to the end of the extension portion 195d. The contact portion 196 c is electrically connected with theexpansion portion 177 a of the first drain electrode 175 a through thecontact hole 185 a, and the contact portion 196 d is electricallyconnected with the expansion portion of the second drain electrodethrough a contact hole.

The shield electrode 199 may extend between pixels PXa, PXb, and PXcadjacent to each other in the first direction DR1 and/or pixels PXa,PXb, and PXc adjacent to each other in the second direction DR2 toprevent coupling and light leakage between the adjacent pixels PXa, PXb,and PXc.

The pixel electrode layer may include a transparent conductive material,e.g., indium-tin oxide (ITO), indium-zinc oxide (IZO), a metal thinfilm, or the like.

An alignment layer 11 may be coated on the pixel electrode layer and thesecond insulation layer 180 b.

Next, in the second display panel 200, the light blocking member 220 maybe on a substrate 210 (in FIG. 31, below the substrate 210). A commonelectrode 271 may be on the light blocking member 220 (in FIG. 32, belowthe light blocking member 220). The common electrode 271 may be formedon the entire surface of the substrate 210. The common electrode 271 maytransmit a common voltage. The common electrode 271 may include atransparent conductive material such as ITO, IZO, a metal thin film, orthe like.

An alignment layer 21 may be coated on the common electrode 271 (in FIG.31, below the common electrode 271).

The liquid crystal layer 3 may include a plurality of liquid crystalmolecules 31.

The previously described first display area DA1 may have a structureshown in FIG. 30 and FIG. 31.

A planar structure and a cross-sectional structure of the pixel area PU2of the second display area DA2 may have a part of the structure shown inFIG. 30 and the structure shown in FIG. 31.

In the light transmittance area TA of the second display area DA2, thecommon electrode 271 may have a pattern area 275 like theabove-described common electrode 270. In the pattern area 275, thecommon electrode 271 may be removed as shown in FIG. 24 or may bestacked thinner than at the periphery, as shown in FIG. 25.

In the light transmittance area TA, at least a part of the structureshown in FIG. 30 and FIG. 31, for example, at least a part of thesemiconductor layer, the gate electrode 124 a, the drain electrode 175a, and the sub-pixel electrodes 191 cc and 191 dd may be removed.Accordingly, light transmittance in the light transmittance area TA maybe higher than that of the pixel areas PU1 and PU2. The substrate 110 inthe light transmittance area TA may not be removed.

By way of summation and review, a display device may include functionsin addition to a function of displaying an image. When a display deviceincludes an optical member, it is desirable to increase lighttransmittance in a display area corresponding to the optical member andprevent deterioration of the display quality of a displayed image.

Embodiments provide a display device that includes an optical member,and in which light transmittance in a display area corresponding to theoptical member is increased and deterioration of the display quality ofa displayed image is minimized or prevented.

Example embodiments have been disclosed herein, and although specificterms are employed, they are used and are to be interpreted in a genericand descriptive sense only and not for purpose of limitation. In someinstances, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art asof the filing of the present application, features, characteristics,and/or elements described in connection with a particular embodiment maybe used singly or in combination with features, characteristics, and/orelements described in connection with other embodiments unless otherwisespecifically indicated. Accordingly, it will be understood by those ofskill in the art that various changes in form and details may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention asset forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device, comprising a substrate thatincludes a first display area and a second display area, wherein: thefirst display area includes a plurality of first pixel areas, each ofthe plurality of first pixel areas including one or more first pixels,the second display area includes a plurality of second pixel areas and alight transmittance area, each of the plurality of second pixel areasincluding one or more second pixels, the light transmittance area hashigher light transmittance than the second pixel area, the first displayarea and the second display area include a common electrode thattransmits a constant common voltage, the common electrode in the seconddisplay area includes a plurality of patterned regions that correspondto a first light transmittance area in the light transmittance area, athickness of the common electrode in the patterned regions is smallerthan a thickness of the common electrode in a region other than thepatterned regions or equals zero, and the plurality of patterned regionsand the plurality of second pixel areas extend alternately along a firstdirection in the second display area.
 2. The display device as claimedin claim 1, wherein: the plurality of second pixel areas in the seconddisplay area are distanced from each other along the first direction anda second direction that is different from the first direction, and asecond light transmittance area included in the light transmittance areais between two of the plurality of second pixel areas that neighbor eachother, at a distance from each other.
 3. The display device as claimedin claim 2, wherein, in the second display area, the plurality ofpatterned regions and the plurality of second pixel areas are alsoalternately arranged along the second direction.
 4. The display deviceas claimed in claim 2, wherein the second pixel area includes a firstcolor pixel that outputs a first color, a second color pixel thatoutputs a second color that is different from the first color, and athird color pixel that outputs a third color that is different from thefirst color and the second color.
 5. The display device as claimed inclaim 4, wherein the first color pixel, the second color pixel, and thethird color pixel are formed in a same shape as each other and arearranged in a line in the second pixel area.
 6. The display device asclaimed in claim 4, wherein one of the plurality of second pixel areasincludes one of the first color pixel, one of the second color pixel,and one of the third color pixel.
 7. The display device as claimed inclaim 4, wherein at least two of the first color pixel, the second colorpixel, and the third color pixel are different in size from each other.8. The display device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of theplurality of second pixel areas includes only one pixel that representsone color.
 9. The display device as claimed in claim 2, wherein thecommon electrode in the first display area is continuously formed with auniform thickness.
 10. The display device as claimed in claim 2,wherein: one of the patterned regions extends long in the seconddirection, and two or more of the plurality of second pixel areas are inan area that is adjacent to the patterned region in the first direction.11. The display device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the second pixelarea includes a first color pixel outputting a first color, a secondcolor pixel outputting a second color that is different from the firstcolor, and a third pixel outputting a third color that is different fromthe first color and the second color.
 12. The display device as claimedin claim 11, wherein the first color pixel, the second color pixel, andthe third color pixel are formed in a same shape as each other andarranged in a line in the second pixel area.
 13. The display device asclaimed in claim 11, wherein one of the second pixel areas includes oneof the first color pixel, one of the second color pixel, and one of thethird color pixel.
 14. The display device as claimed in claim 11,wherein at least two of the first color pixel, the second color pixel,and the third color pixel are different in size from each other.
 15. Thedisplay device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the common electrode isnot at an outer side of one edge of the patterned region.
 16. A displaydevice, comprising: a substrate that includes a first display area and asecond display area; a plurality of first pixel areas in the firstdisplay area; a plurality of second pixel areas and a lighttransmittance area in the second display area; a plurality of pixelelectrodes in the first pixel area and the second pixel area; anemission layer on the plurality of pixel electrodes; and a commonelectrode on the emission layer of the first pixel area and the secondpixel area, the common electrode to transmit a common voltage, whereinthe common electrode in the second display area includes a plurality ofpatterned regions that correspond to the light transmittance area, and athickness of the common electrode in the patterned regions is smallerthan a thickness of the common electrode in a region other than thepatterned regions or equals zero.
 17. The display device as claimed inclaim 16, wherein, in the second display area, the plurality ofpatterned regions and the plurality of second pixel areas arealternately arranged along a first direction.
 18. The display device asclaimed in claim 17, wherein: the plurality of second pixel areas in thesecond display area are distanced from each other in the first directionand a second direction that is different from the first direction, andthe light transmittance area is between two of the plurality of secondpixel areas that neighbor each other at a distance from each other. 19.A display device, comprising: a substrate that includes a first displayarea and a second display area; a plurality of first pixel areas in thefirst display area; a plurality of second pixel areas and a lighttransmittance area in the second display area; and a common electrode inthe first pixel area and in the second pixel area to transmit a commonvoltage, wherein the light transmittance area has higher lighttransmittance than the second pixel area, each of the plurality ofsecond pixel areas includes a plurality of second pixels that extend ina first direction, the common electrode in the second display areaincludes a plurality of patterned regions that correspond to a firstlight transmittance area included in the light transmittance area, athickness of the common electrode in the patterned region is smallerthan a thickness of the common electrode in a region other than thepatterned regions or equals zero, and each of the plurality of patternedregions extends in a second direction that is different from the firstdirection.
 20. The display device as claimed in claim 19, wherein: theplurality of second pixel areas in the second display area are distancedfrom each other in the second direction, and a second lighttransmittance area included in the light transmittance area is betweentwo of the plurality of second pixel areas that neighbor each other at adistance from each other.